deskthority

Yep sp33ls. Thanks everyone for the reference color recommendations.

The very first one-piece keys just came out of the new injection molds!

Here is a video of the injection mold in action! Everything is so automated. All other keys also finished; will post photos later this week.

I will receive the samples from the factory later this month for evaluation.

Ellipse wrote: ↑The very first one-piece keys just came out of the new injection molds!

Here is a video of the injection mold in action! Everything is so automated. All other keys also finished; will post photos later this week.

I will receive the samples from the factory later this month for evaluation.

Had no idea that they are producing only 8 keys a shot. Not complaining in any way here but will they in fact produce enough in 3 to 4 months time?

We all have to look after our keys here because this won't happen again ever, once this whole manufacturing process finishes.

Elrick wrote: ↑

Ellipse wrote: ↑The very first one-piece keys just came out of the new injection molds!

Here is a video of the injection mold in action! Everything is so automated. All other keys also finished; will post photos later this week.

I will receive the samples from the factory later this month for evaluation.

Had no idea that they are producing only 8 keys a shot. Not complaining in any way here but will they in fact produce enough in 3 to 4 months time?

We all have to look after our keys here because this won't happen again ever, once this whole manufacturing process finishes.

No need to worry if the quality truly is as good as the original keycaps. My XTs caps still look brand new and that's a 33 year old board that saw heavy use.

Elrick wrote: ↑ We all have to look after our keys here because this won't happen again ever, once this whole manufacturing process finishes.

So you think they are going through the trouble of making stainless steel injection molds and then use them for a single production batch?



That's a money printing machine!!!

Sorry but I'm going to have to quote a fellow DT member here out of context:

Not gonna touch that one...even with someone else's twenty foot pole.

Is there still going to be a second order, or has everything merged into one large at this point? I still have the idea in my head that this is early bird round...

I wanted to wait to get my F60 before pulling the trigger on an F77 and compact cases, but is this too late?

I'm still operating on the assumption that there will be another round. I want to see user reviews of the boards and keycaps before I commit.

Yeah, me too. I already ordered an F62. Waiting for next round to order an F77, if my F62 lives up to IBM’s Model F legend.


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Yep confirmed there will be one more round once the early bird round production is finished. We are still in the early bird round.

I plan on sending out some loaner units to professional tech reviewers after the first round production keyboards are done. If anyone has any contacts or recommendations that you haven't mentioned beforehand please PM me. From everyone who appreciates buckling spring keyboards, prof. or not, I'd like as many thorough reviews as possible!

I'm not a fan of LinusTechTips but it might make sense to send him a review unit for all the publicity. On the other hand I feel like his audience might not appreciate something as nice as a Model F because it's not "gamer" enough.

FXT wrote: ↑I'm not a fan of LinusTechTips but it might make sense to send him a review unit for all the publicity. On the other hand I feel like his audience might not appreciate something as nice as a Model F because it's not "gamer" enough.

I wouldn't be so sure, Linus has mentioned his love for Model M's in a video before. He may appreciate a Model F even more so.

Linus has a big audience but is more neutral on clicky mechanical keyboards. Personally I would think LGR would be the perfect person to send one to, he is big into model m keyboards and has a ton of old and new computer peripherals which he as reviewed.

I'm sure Norm (and certainly Patrick) over on Tested would love a review unit, though I imagine that you'd have to pay a lot for an on-camera review / exposure.

Yah, I second the idea of sending one to LGR. I think his audience is more likely to appreciate something as great as a Model F.


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This is bit out of left field but, AvE might be worth considering. He is fanatical about high end injection moulding and tools made to last. If this gets uncle bumblefuck's blessing, you are going to get a whole new population of recruits...

Scarpia wrote: ↑I'm sure Norm (and certainly Patrick) over on Tested would love a review unit, though I imagine that you'd have to pay a lot for an on-camera review / exposure.

No need to pay any felcher here, to review his keyboard.

Hate bludging parasites that want money to post reviews, that is where these sleeve-holes earn a living by being paid to promote anything, hence is it really worth wasting valuable money (our funds) on what these turd-eaters think?

I say, NO way Jose .

Have you heard of Chyrosan22?

I stumbled upon his videos when checking out vintage boards. Not as large of a following (15k subs), but they look to be a loyal following (and focus on keyboards).

Also, Unbox Therapy and HardwareCanucks would be solid.

Sp33ls wrote: ↑Have you heard of

?

I stumbled upon his videos when checking out vintage boards. Not as large of a following, but they look to be a loyal following (and focus on keyboards).

Also, Unbox Therapy and HardwareCanucks would be good too.

Yah we know him, he is a user on here think he has mentioned this place a few times in his reviews.
I dont think Lou would be interested, unless someone sold it to him as being some crazy expensive extreme keyboard that everyone is gonna want. He only does trendy stuff

Ahh. I'm not surprised to hear that lol

Sp33ls wrote: ↑Have you heard of Chyrosan22?

I stumbled upon his videos when checking out vintage boards. Not as large of a following (15k subs), but they look to be a loyal following (and focus on keyboards).

Yep we all know of that character named Chyros, very suspicious fellow that takes videos of very strange input devices and showing them to like minded perverts.

That's definitely someone to be aware of here and may even review this keyboard in such a way to help elicit moist areas for any keyboard virgins, not use to such hardcore imagery.

Love this guy, he never stops short in unveiling the most explicit views to those who appreciate seeing a Model-F shown in all it's natural glory .

LIttle known fact: Chyros is actually a user mod of Virtual Waifu that's being used, by a consortium of Alps owners, to drive up the price of their keyboards.

(Damn. We've been discovered.)

ohaimark wrote: ↑(Damn. We've been discovered.)

Along with the key and spring samples arriving later this month I am getting a few units each of the production inner foam to verify all is up to spec - if anyone who ordered foam for their F122/F107 wants the foam shipped earlier please let me know.

Ellipse wrote: ↑Along with the key and spring samples arriving later this month I am getting a few units each of the production inner foam to verify all is up to spec - if anyone who ordered foam for their F122/F107 wants the foam shipped earlier please let me know.

F122 foam can be ordered? Pardon my ignorance, but I can't see that listed on the website. I am interested in it, however.

Edit;
Here; https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... f107-f122/

Iggy wrote: ↑

Ellipse wrote: ↑Along with the key and spring samples arriving later this month I am getting a few units each of the production inner foam to verify all is up to spec - if anyone who ordered foam for their F122/F107 wants the foam shipped earlier please let me know.

F122 foam can be ordered? Pardon my ignorance, but I can't see that listed on the website. I am interested in it, however.

Edit;
Here; https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product ... f107-f122/

How come didn't I know this? It's good that I now know.

Sorry I should have been clearer about F107 and F122 new foam - I made extras so they are still available to order.

I also have one original XT foam left - it's the good condition kind of foam not the crumbly kind. I won't be making the XT/AT foam as it would have required another tooling/setup charge. The 107 and 122 share the same tooling given the identical barrel positioning, with extra keys for the F107 in the Ins/Del/etc. columns.

The factory has made nice progress on version 2.0 of the key-flipper assembler. It appears to work with pneumatics. This should save significant assembly time and avoid this part of assembly becoming a bottleneck to the project.

A few of each type of the completed production inner foam arrived and they are all excellent.

The key samples arrived and I can confirm that the key texture is an excellent match to the original XT keys. The keys are also great quality - nice thick walls, strong, high quality PBT.

With the next key samples arriving in a week or two, they should be within tolerance (these first sample keys were just to see the key top texture and PBT quality - they do not yet meet the strict tolerances). The factory is still working out the PBT shrinkage issues (PBT is a difficult plastic to work with because it shrinks during the injection molding process).
Soon after I am hoping for the correct key colors for the project to be confirmed (pearl/pebble, blue, etc.).

The spring samples are almost done - just waiting on the finishing stage and then they can mail them.

So it's just the keys, top and bottom inner assembly, springs, and compact cases that are not yet waiting to be assembled. Everything else is boxed and ready for assembly. For storage reasons the outside protective foam and boxes will be done last by the factory, when everything else is just about done.

Oh wow they look fab!